Gampaha Education Zone

46 Appreciation of English Literary Texts

Practice Paper 2023
Three hours
Name:………………………………………………………….
Paper I

• Answer all the questions in section A.

• Select either I, II or III from section B and answer all the questions given below it.
• The maximum mark allocated for paper I is 40.

Section A – Poetry, Prose and Drama.

Read the following extracts and answer all the questions given below them.
I Poetry
i. “He eyed it this way, eyed it that,
Then he stuck it in his hat”

a. Name the poem from which these lines are taken. Name the poet who wrote it.
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
b. Who eyed it this way and that?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. What does the word “it” refer to? Why do you think he acted in this way?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. What is conveyed through this line?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)

ii. “and floats downstream

till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays”

a. From which poem are these lines taken? Who wrote the poem?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
 b. What is the context of this extract?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. Whose action is described by this extract?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. Which aspect of the theme is brought out by the action in the above extract?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
II Prose
i. “region that was so carefully sealed from youthful eyes and concerning which no questions
were answered. It came up to his expectations."
a. From which work are these lines taken? Who is the author?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
b. What is referred to as “that region"?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. Whose expectations did it come up to?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. Who is responsible for the situation given in the extract? Give reasons.
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)

ii. "We were nearing the end of the hotel drive way. We were about to turn left into the dirt
track that runs by the lagoon.”

a. From which work are these lines taken? Who is the author?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
b. What is the situation described here?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. Who are "we" mentioned in this extract?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. What truth about human behaviour in a crisis situation is reflected here?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
 III Drama
i. “Since she came here, he never does anything but, sleep by the fire side all day long"

a. Name the work from which this extract is taken. Name the author.
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
b. Who is referred as "She"?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. Why has she done such a thing?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. Who is the speaker and what is your attitude towards the speaker of these words?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)

ii. “You deceived me. Had rows with me, left me alone for weeks on end......”
a. From where are these lines taken? Who wrote it?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
b. Who speaks to whom? What is the situation?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
c. Who is "you" referred to here?
………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
d. What is the tone of the speaker?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
Section B – Novels.
Select either I, II or III from section B and answer all the questions given below it.

I. Read the following extract from The Prince and the Pauper and then answer all the questions
given below it.
“He had stubbornly refused to act more over; he was always trying to escape. He had been thrust
into an unwatched kitchen, the first day of his return: he not only came forth empty-handed but
tried to rouse the housemates. He was sent out with a tinker to help him at his work; He would
not work; moreover; he threatened the tinker with his own soldering iron”
 i. What is the situation given in the passage? who is "he"?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
ii. Why does he behave in this manner?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
iii. Explain the meaning of the following phrases as they occur in the passage.
a. Thrust ………………..
b. Soldering ……………….. (2 marks)
iv. What does it reveal about the place he is in?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (4 marks)
II. Read the following extract from “Bringing Tony Home” and answer all the questions given
below it.
“sprang up and twisted and turned and bent trying to pull the books from behind my back and
the grey woman and her son with the square face were staring at me as I was the craziest thing
they had encountered in their lives. The books were partially wet with sweat but still had the
smell of fresh biscuits.”
i. What is the situation? Why did he behave in this manner?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
ii. How important were the books to him?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 mark)
iii. Give another word for the following
a. encountered ………………..
b. partially ……………….. (2 marks)
iv. How would you describe the character in this passage?
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (4 marks)
III. Read the following extract from The Vendor of Sweets and then answer all the questions
given below it.
“All through their journey back, Jagan remained pensive. His brother did not try to disturb his
mood. Their train was due to arrive two hours later, but the double bullock cart had put them
down at the little railway station before sunset and had returned to the village. Jagan sat on a
weighing Platform, looking away at a range of mountains beyond the green fields. His brother,
who was pacing up and down impatiently, stopped by for a minute to say, why should they have
dumped us down here so early?”
i. When and where does the incident take place?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
ii. Why did Jagan remain pensive?
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (2 marks)
iii. Explain the meaning of the following phrases as they occur in the passage.
a. Remained pensive ………………..………………..………………………...
b. Pacing up and down impatiently ………………..………….…………….... (2 marks)
iv. Comment on one thematic aspect of this novel referring to the incident described in this
Passage.
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………… (4 marks)
 Appreciation of English Literary Texts

Paper II

• Answer four questions selecting one each from the four sections - Poetry, Drama, Prose
and Fiction.
• The maximum mark allocated for paper II is 60.

Poetry
(Answer one question only.)

1. Nature is pictured out at its utmost intense through the image of the Eagle by Tennyson the
poem "The Eagle". Discuss in relation to the text.
2. The generation gap between the older and young generations is well portrayed in the poem
“Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. Discuss referring to the causes of the problem, according
to the poem.
3. How skillful is the poet in depicting brutality of war in the poem, "War is Kind”? Support
your answer with examples from the text.
4. Reality and appearance are two different aspects as far as the modern society is concerned.
Justify your answer referring to the poem Richard Cory.
5. The poem Upside -Down is only about inability of the society to understand individuals
like "Upside Down”. Do you agree? Discuss in relation to the poem.

Drama
(Answer one question only.)
6. Twilight of a Crane is not only about love and sacrifice but also about greed and avarice.
Discuss.
7. "Popova's strength of character emerges in the face of Smirnov's challenging behaviour.”
Discuss referring to the drama "The Bear".

Prose
(Answer one question only.)
8. Nicholas becomes smart and imaginative due to aunt's authoritativeness in The Lumber
Room. Do you agree? Write with examples.
9. “The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde is not only about true love." Discuss with
close reference from the text.
10. The Lahore Attack presents Kumar Sangakkara as a human being full of sensitivity.
Examine this statement with examples from the text.
11. “Wave is a classic example of how humans encounter unexpected disasters." Do you agree?
Support your answer drawing examples from the text.

Fiction
(Answer one question only.)
12. The value of friendship has been brought out in the novel Prince and the Pauper by Mark
Twain. Discuss giving examples from the novel.
13. The gentle and peaceful relationship between the boy and the dog suffers a shocking split.
Who do you empathise more? The boy or the dog? Discuss referring to Bringing Tony
Home.
14. The American experience of Mali becomes a challenge To Jagan's conventional life style.
Discuss referring to the Vendor of Sweets by R.K. Narayan.